Method of making metal wheels.



I 110.810,198. PATBNTED 11111.16, 1906.

E. EINFELDT.

METHOD 0F MAKING METAL WHEELS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.13, 1905. RENEWED DEO 8,1905.

UNITED sTATEs EMIL EINFELDT, OF DAVENPORT,

METAL WHEEL OOMPAN'Y` PATENT OFFIOE.

METHOD OF MAKING METAL WHEELS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 16, 1906.

riginal application filed October 20,1904, Serial No. 229,222. Divided and this application filed March 13,1905. Renewed December 8,1905. Serial No. 290.963.

To nl] whom, if Tim/y concern.'

Be it known that I, EMIL EINFELDT, of Davenport, county of Scott, and State of Iowa, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Methods of Making Metal Wheels, of which the following is a specification, being a division of original application filed October 20, 1904,5eria1N0. 229,222.

This invention relates to the manufacture of metal wheels of the type known in the art as staggered wheels 7-'that is, wheels wherein the spokes are fastened to the hub in two rows or ranks and are secured to the' rim either in a single row or in two rows approaching each other more or less.

The object of the invention is to produce a wheel of this character in which all the spokes will be under a uniform and even tension; and the invention consists of the improved method of accomplishing this result, which method consists in first fastening all the spokes of one rank to the hub and the rim and then fastening the spokes of the other rank to the members of the wheel while the spokes of the second rank are hot, preferably at their ends, with the result that the contraction of the spokes due to their cooling will cause the hub to move endwise a slight distance relatively to the rim, which movement of the hub will continue until the resulting strain placed on the spokes of the first rank balances that which the contracting spokes exert, when the hub will 'come to a rest and all the spokes of both ranks will be under a uniform and evenly-distributed tension. For the best resultscare should be taken that after the first rank of spokes has been fastened in place the hub will occupy such a position with reference tothe rim in a direction longitudinally of the aXis of the hub that after it has been moved endwise by the contraction of the second rank of spokes and has come to a rest it will be properly and accurately centered. The method of procedure described contemplates the fastening of only the second rank of spokes while their ends are hot, and the contraction of this l rank only is utilized to place a strain or tension on all the spokes. Hence under this broad comprehension of the invention the firstl rank of spokes may be fastened in cold and by any suitable means either to a rim which has had its ends previously connected together or to an open rim which must be connected after the first rank has been fastened 4in place. I may, however, with a closed rim .fasten both ranks of spokes in place while their ends are hot, allowing the first rank to cool sufficiently to permit their contraction before the second rank is secured. As a result of this mode of procedure when the spokes first secured contract they in shortening will pull on the hub and rim and will cause the hub to move relatively to the rim some distance endwise, and this movement of the hub meeting with no counter resistance the tension of the spokes will be slight and the hub finally occupy in the completed wheel. When, however, the second rank of spokes has been secured to the members of the wheel, their shortening, due to cooling, will meet with the resistance offered by the first rank, and while a free movement of the hub in an opposite direction will not be permitted it will be moved until the strain of the contracting spokes is balanced by the increasing tension which theI spokes of the first rank.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rim of the form which I prefer to employ in carrying my invention into effect. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the hub. Fig. 3 is an elevation of one of the spokes. Fig. 4 isa view showing the parts of the Wheel assembled previous to the fastening operations and illustrating the relations they occupy to the fastening devices. is a view showing the relation of the hub and rim and spokes after the rst rank of spokes has been fastened in place. Fig. 6 is a sectional elevatien of the completed wheel, showing the hub properly centered after it hasbeen moved endwise by the contraction of the second rank of spokes. Fig. 7 is a view in the nature of a diagram showing the relative movement of the hub due to the contraction of the second rank of spokes. Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the relative opposite movements of the hub due to the contraction of the two ranks of spokes when both ranks are fastened in hot.l

Referring to the drawings, in carrying my invention into practice I prefer to fasten the spokes to the hub and rim in such manner that th re will be no change inthe length of the spo es between these members, with the will be carried to a point beyond that it will4 this reverse movement of the hub places on Fig. 5.

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result that there will be no dan er of destroy` ing the true circular form of t e rim. This admits of the em loyment of a rim having its ends connected) of any of the spokes thereto. In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a rim of this character and mechanism which will secure the spokes in place in this manner. It

will be understood, however,l that my invenro tion may be carried .out by other means, the essence ofthe invention residing not in the manner of securing the individual spokesin place, but in` 'fastening the two ranks'fof spokes in separately and utilizing `the coni5 traction of the secondrank to place all the spokes under tension, the ends of the rim being fastened together before the secondrank of spokes is put in. l

I Will now describe a method of carrying zo out my invention `which in practice I have found to accomplish to an admirable degree the result to'bev attained.

I provide first a closed rim A, Fig.` 1, formed at intervals with 'holes a a a2 a3, &c., 2 5 extending in a single row therearoundto receive the outer ends ofthe spokesB. sented in FiA 3.) I next providea ho ow hub or shell (ga, Fig. 2, having near one end a series of holes c c c2,&c., for theinner ends of the spokes of one rank, and near the opposite end a series of holes d d d2, &c., for the inner ends of thespokes of the other rank. The spokes B, as shown in Fig. 3, are provided near their inner ends with a shoulder b and at 3 5 their opposite ends are thickened, as indicated at 12.k Previous to the fastening of a spoke in place the parts of the wheel are assembledfin the relations shown in Fig. 4, with the hub sustained in fixed relations to the rim in the diametrical center of the same and the spoke with its inner end extending through a hole of oneE rank in the hub, its outer thickened end extending through a hole in the rim, and the shoulder b seated against the outer face of the hub. A heading device l for theninner end of the spoke extends wit in the hub in position to act on the end of the spoke therein. A heading device Fextends outside the rim in position to act on the outer end of the s oke projecting therethrough. A shoulder-fbrmin clamp G embraces the s oke-at the end of t e thickened portionof-t e same at theinner `face of the rim in osition to act on the spoke at this point, whi e a stop-clamp H embraces the spoke at the outer ace of the shoulder b. B suitable means the headin -tool E is a vanced, upsets the end of t e spoke within the hub, thereby forming a confining-head 6o and the hub during this operation being held firmlyv against motion in the direction in which the header acts by means of the spokeclam H, against which the shoulder b abuts. The eader F is now by suitable means adprevious to the fastening` (Re re.-

thereon, and immediately retreats, the spokeA vanced toward the hub and upsets the outer end of the s oke, thereby forming a head, simultaneous with which action'the rim,hub, and spoke are pushed endwise at less speed than the header F and with relation to the 7o clamps G, with the result that the thickened portion of the spoke at b is scraped up by the frictional resistance offered by the clamps G, and thisscraped-u portion of the s oke is accumulated in the orm lof a yshouler K and is dis osed in forcible contact with the inner face of) the rim. The hub and rim,' connected by the spoke just fastened, is now shifted around to bring the next hole in the hub -in position for another spoke, which is 8o seated in lace with its outer end extending through t e next alternate hole in the rim and its inner end 'through the next hole of the same rank in the hub. The operation of fastening the spoke just described is repeated, resulting in the attachment of the second spoke, and these operations are continued until all of the spokes of one rank have been secured in succession entirely around the wheel. The partly-completed wheel with one rank 9o of s okes fastened in place is now acted on b t e mechanism described, and the spokes of7 the second rank are fastened successively in position, with their inner ends extending through the holes of the second'rank in the 95 hub and their outer ends extending, respectively; in the holes in the rim left between the spokes of the first rank, each spoke of ,the second rank, however, before being act ed on by the fastening devices having its roo ends `heated to the pro er degree. When the spokes of the secon rank cool, they in shortening from contraction will draw the hub endwise, which action will place a strainon the spokes of the first rank, and this will continue until it balances, the strain being exerted by the contracted spokes, wherelupon the parts of the Wheel will come to a rest, and the tension will be evenly distributed among all the s okesy of both ranks. The relation of the hu rim, and connected spokes of the firstrank should be such that when the hub is moved endWise by the contraction of the spokes of the second rank and comes to a rest the hub will occupy its proper relation in a longitudinal direction to the rim. Y `In Fig. 5 the relation of the parts of the unfinished wheel is illustrated. Here it will be seen that the hub is heldby the connected spokes a slight distance beyond its final true position in the com leted Wheel, which true position is shown 1n Fig. 6, where it will be seen thatby the contraction of the second rank of spokes the hub has been drawn to its proper point.

In Fig. 7 the dotted line and the arrow illustrate, respectively, the position of the 'hub after the first rank has been fastened and its final position after the second rank 13o has been secured and its spokes have conbeing closed at any time prior to the fastengether after the first rank of spokes has been fastened.

As before stated, both ranks of spokes may be fastened to the hub and rim while the ends of the spokes are hot, time being given for the spokes of the first rank to contract before the second rank is applied. In

proceeding in this Imanner I employ a closed rim from the start and fasten the spokes in place by means which in the fastening oper ation will not change the length of the spokes between the hub andthe rim. After the first rank has been fastened in this mannerl with the ends of the spokes hot .time is given to permit them to cool sufficiently, the re-` sult being that their contraction will act to i draw the hub endwise beyond the point it will finally occupy in the completed wheel, which abnormal position of the hub is indicated by the dotted arrow in Fig. 8. When the spokes of the second rank after being fastened in place hot have cooled and contracted, they will act to draw the hub back in an opposite direction, as indicated by the fullline arrow, Fig. 8, a distance which in practice has been found to be one-half that which the hub was drawn by the contraction of the rst rank of spokes. As a result of this reverse movement of the hub under the con traction of the second rank all thevspokes will be placed under aneven and uniform tension, and thev hub will finally come to rest at its proper and true position with relation to the other parts of the wheel.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The method of making metal Wheels in which the spokes are secured to the hub in two ranks, which method consists in fastening all the spokes of one rank to the members of the wheel and then fastening the spokes of the other rank while hot, the rim ing of the lsecond rank.

2. The method of making metal wheels in which the spokes are secured to the hub in two ranks, which method consists in fastening together the hub, rim and spokes of one rank in such relations that the hub will occupy a position in a longitudinal direction beyond that it will occu y in the completed wheel, then fastening al thespokes of the other rank to the hub and closed rim while said spokes are hot; whereby the contraction of the spones from cooling will draw the hub to the pro er position and will place allthe spokes un er tension.

3. The method of making metal wheels in which the spokes are fastened to the hub in two rows or ranksJ which consists in providing a hub with two rows of holes therearound, and al rim with holes spaced therearound at intervals, fastening all the spokes of one rank in place with their inner ends in the holes of one rank in the hub and their outer ends in every alternate hole in the rim, then fastening all the spokes of the other rank in place While hot with their inner ends in the holes of the second rank in the hub and their outer ends in the holes in the rim, the rim being closed at any time prior to'the fastening of the second rank.

4. The method of making staggered wheels, which consists in fastening one rank of spokes to the hub and rim while the spokes arehhot, allowingthe secured spokes to contract, and then fastening the spokes of the other rank while hot, to the members of the wheel, the rim being closed at any time prior to the fastening of the second rank.

5. The method of making staggered wheels, which consists in providing a hub with two series of holes therearound, a closed rim, and spokes, fastening all the spokes of one rank to the hub and rim respectively, and then securing the spokes of the other rank while hot to the hub and rim.

In testimony-whereof I hereunto set my hand, this 11th day of March, 1905, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

. EMIL EINFELDT. Witnesses:

ANDREW NEILsoN, M. LoUIsE DODGE. 

